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Steamboat Springs — Frank and Lou Dolman made sure their children were given plenty of opportunities to love skiing as much as their parents did.

Frank, a National Ski Patrol volunteer, can lay claim to skiing at 167 ski areas in North America. But after the "best ski week (his family) ever had," Steamboat was the only one his family ever returned to.

Since moving here 12 years ago, the Dolmans have worked to maintain the area's family-friendly feel - or, as Lou puts it, "doing what we can to keep Steamboat, Steamboat."

"I'm concerned that we retain that sense of community for real families," said Lou, who put her passion for childhood development to work by opening the First Tracks day-care center in 1996. She also was instrumental in eventually transforming the center into the Young Tracks Preschool & Child Care Center, a nonprofit organization she sees as providing substantial benefit to the community.

"It's an initiative for quality early childhood education to allow kids to maximize their potential and enter school ready to learn," Lou said.

Lou continues volunteering with and for kids. She serves on the board of Routt County United Way and First Impressions of Routt County, and she also helps Frank with their business, Baby's Away.

Baby's Away, a baby equipment rental business, represents Frank's continued involvement in what he sees as the necessity of a vibrant economy.

When Frank's not busy patrolling at Howelsen Hill or guiding for the Over the Hill Gang, he and Lou find time to take advantage of what brought them here in the first place - skiing with their five grandchildren.